Shawn Sturgeon: Delta Airlines sued for overserving man with alcohol who later ran over and killed wife

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: According to a lawsuit, Delta Air Lines allegedly served an individual an excessive amount of alcoholic beverages during a cross-country flight, resulting in the individual becoming highly intoxicated.

Upon landing, the intoxicated individual reportedly ran over and fatally injured his wife in an airport parking lot.

The incident, which occurred on April 4, 2022, at Salt Lake City International Airport, involved Shawn Christopher Sturgeon, who was 38 years old at the time.

Sturgeon's actions led to the tragic death of his wife, Charlotte Sturgeon. In July 2022, Shawn was convicted of automobile homicide and domestic violence in the presence of a child.

As a result, he was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison as per Law&Crime.

What does the lawsuit claim?

Legal representatives acting on behalf of Charlotte's estate and the couple's child, who tragically bore witness to the violent incident, have commenced legal proceedings against the Atlanta-based airline, citing allegations of dram shop liability, wrongful death, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

The lawsuit contends that Delta Air Lines should have been aware of Shawn's severe intoxication upon allowing him to disembark the aircraft, as he had been served alcohol during the flight. 

Furthermore, it asserts that the airline neglected to take measures to prevent Shawn from driving or to alert law enforcement about his state of intoxication and potential impairment.

Accusing Delta of engaging in a deliberate and reckless course of conduct, the lawsuit alleges that the airline displayed a flagrant disregard for the safety of Charlotte and others by continuing to serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals, thus profiting from their impairment.

Additionally, the lawsuit highlights the significant emotional toll suffered by the Sturgeon's daughter, who endured severe distress and required counseling and medical treatment following the harrowing experience of witnessing her mother's anguish and subsequent death.

While Delta has broadly contested the allegations outlined in the lawsuit, it has refrained from providing specific details.

The lawsuit seeks various forms of compensation, including medical expenses, lost earnings, funeral costs, pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, and the loss of companionship and enjoyment of life.

Originally filed in Utah in late January, the complaint was subsequently transferred to federal court in the previous week.

Shawn Sturgeon was overserved with multiple alcoholic beverages while onboarding

The Sturgeons were en route home from a family vacation in San Antonio when the events unfolded. 

According to the lawsuit, Shawn Sturgeon had already consumed multiple alcoholic beverages while at the airport in Texas that day. 

However, the lawsuit alleges that Delta Air Lines proceeded to serve him additional alcoholic drinks once onboard.

The legal document asserts that Delta Air Lines personnel provided Shawn with at least two more alcoholic beverages, each containing high levels of alcohol content by volume. 

Upon arrival in Salt Lake City, the lawsuit contends that the alcohol served by Delta had rendered Shawn significantly intoxicated, surpassing the legal blood alcohol limit and impairing his faculties.

The lawsuit depicts a blurry sequence of events surrounding the family's disembarkation, suggesting that Shawn was so intoxicated that he claims to have no recollection of the landing or navigating through the Salt Lake City airport.

How did Charlotte Sturgeon die?

According to the lawsuit, Shawn, while intoxicated, assumed the driver's seat of the vehicle while his wife remained outside.

He initiated the vehicle, shifted it into gear, and accelerated, intending to exit the parking spot.

Due to his impaired state from intoxication, he failed to notice that Charlotte was still outside the vehicle and in the path of its movement.

A charging document obtained by the Salt Lake City Tribune reported that prior to either of them entering the SUV, the couple engaged in a loud and aggressive argument that made several bystanders uncomfortable.

Security footage revealed that the man first placed their child inside the vehicle before taking the driver's seat.

Simultaneously, the woman exited the front passenger seat to attend to their child. It was during this moment that the vehicle abruptly shifted into reverse, causing the woman to lose her balance.

With the back passenger door still open, the car then accelerated in reverse, ultimately knocking Charlotte Sturgeon down and dragging her along with the vehicle.

Subsequently, Shawn Sturgeon switched gears and moved forward, dragging his wife approximately 10 feet and leaving a tire mark on her body.

Following the incident, the SUV was observed driving to a parking garage payment booth, where Shawn sought assistance from an attendant.

At that point, Charlotte was still breathing, but she was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she tragically succumbed to her injuries.